The Dravid-Rohit era has kicked off in some style as India have sealed the T20I series against New Zealand by registering another comprehensive win on Friday. It was a repeat of another all-round performance from the Men in Blue as not much changed from Jaipur to Ranchi. The bowlers impressed in the first innings, captain Rohit led from the front and Rishabh Pant hit the winning runs – there were quite a lot of similarities in the first two games of the series.
It was Harshal Patel who starred with the ball on his debut as his fantastic spell of bowling (2/25), alongside all the bowlers who took a wicket each, restricted New Zealand to 153/6 in 20 overs. In reply, it was the Rohit-Rahul show at the top once again as the duo notched up another 100+ partnership to set up a comfortable win for India.
Something that delighted everyone on the evening was the fact that it was Rishabh Pant, who hit two back-to-back sixes towards the end of match, to seal the match and the series for his side.
Watch Pant’s match-winning six here:
#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/5H6s3VSvKH
— Pratik 🪄 (@122mlongsix) November 19, 2021
It was more special for the fans because of the fact that the match was being played at MS Dhoni’s home ground in Ranchi. To see a wicketkeeper batsman finishing off the things in style, the netizens couldn’t help themselves but to draw the parallel between the two of them, as India enter a new era in the shortest format of the game.
Rishabh Pant finishes the match in style with a six to seal the T20I series for India 2-0. First series win for the Rohit-Dravid duo. A great start to the new era.#INDvNZ
— Neelabh (@CricNeelabh) November 19, 2021
Game at Ranchi and the Indian wicketkeeper finishing off it in style with a six. #INDvNZ #Pant
— Satwik (@satwik507) November 19, 2021
An Indian wicket keeper finishing match with a six in Ranchi
True tribute to MS Dhoni.#INDvNZ
— ch€[email protected] (@trust_my_lies) November 19, 2021
There was also a section of fans who were left in awe of India’s new T20I captain – Rohit Sharma. The right-handed batsman continued his impressive form which he showed in the previous game as he punished the Kiwi bowlers, smashing them all over the park. In the process, Hitman also equaled Virat Kohli’s record of 29 T20I fifties.
Bowlers bowls a short ball#INDvNZ
Rohit Sharma: pic.twitter.com/rOPTrFwKdZ
— ch€[email protected] (@trust_my_lies) November 19, 2021
2022 is going to be Rohit Sharma year.#INDvNZ
— Krishna Pratap Singh (@RoyalRajput_) November 19, 2021
Most fifties + in T20I:
Rohit – 29
Kohli – 29Two coal of Indian cricket.
— Kartik godara™ Csk💙×Mi💛 (@Kartik_GOD_ERA) November 19, 2021
While some fans expressed their sarcasm on the fact that India defeated New Zealand in the bilateral series once again, former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer summed up the two matches with a hilarious meme suggesting that it has been a stroll in park for Team India in Jaipur and Ranchi respectively.
Congrats to India on winning bilateral World Cup again 😭#INDvNZ
— Lazy Elegance 🔺 (@Almightymit) November 19, 2021
Nz losing last seven bilateral t20 games but winning in world cup vs india is so funny 😭
— Jimmy Ciego (@Ciegocricket) November 19, 2021
This series feels a lot like this scene 😅 #INDvNZ #IYKYK pic.twitter.com/8oARplbqYO
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) November 19, 2021
